WMM Final

Working Memory Model Summary

Overview

• The working memory model, developed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974), reflects an advancement from the multi-store model of memory, arguing that short-term memory (STM) consists of multiple stores not just a single entity.

Key Components of the Model

1. Central Executive: The control system overseeing and coordinating the activities of the subsystems, with limited capacity and modality-free processes.

• Automatic Level: Relies on habits and schemas, guided by environmental stimuli.

• Supervisory Attention: Engaged in decision-making, planning, and adapting strategies in emergencies.

1. Phonological Loop (Verbal STM): Manages auditory information and consists of:

• Articulatory Control System: Inner voice for verbal information.

• Phonological Store: Stores auditory traces for a short duration.

• Supported by articulatory suppression studies showing impairments in recall when verbal and auditory tasks are simultaneously undertaken.

1. Visuospatial Sketchpad: Holds and manipulates visual and spatial information, aiding tasks like navigation and visual memory.

2. Episodic Buffer: Integrates information from different sources and LTM into a cohesive form, providing conscious access to information.

Research Evidence

• Dual-task Techniques: Experiments show that as long as tasks utilize different memory stores, multitasking is feasible.

• Landry and Bartling (2011): Study demonstrating that articulatory suppression reduces recall accuracy for verbal tasks, verifying components of the working memory model.

• Case Studies of Brain Damage: Evidence from patients (like KF) support the existence of different STM components based on specific impairments (auditory vs visual).

Evaluation of the Model

Strengths:

• Supported by extensive experimental evidence and case studies.

• Neuroimaging indicates distinct brain areas for visual versus auditory tasks.

• Clarifies multitasking capabilities based on different components.

Limitations:

• Unclear role of the central executive; difficulty in measuring its capacity.

• Interaction between components is poorly understood.

• Limited explanation of long-term memory processes and the impact of emotion on memory formation.

The episodic buffer is a part of the working memory model that helps combine information from different sources, such as what you see and what you hear. It acts like a temporary storage space where all this information is brought together so you can understand and remember it better.